
Class JLXLJLS^ 



FRlvSKNTHI) HY 



n^ 



CLASS OF 1872 



Class of 1872 

BOWDOIN COLLEGE 



"Each year to ancient friendships adds a ring 
As to an oak; and precious more and more 
They grow.''* 



AuKUsta, Maine 

Preis of Charles E. Nash & Son 

19 18 



CONTENTS 








Pagt 

Foreword ........ 


The Class of '72 (Historical) 








1 


Roll of Members 








2 


Honors Received at College 










3 


Other Items of Credit 










5 


Class Meetings or Reunions 










11 


Meeting in 1872 . 










11 


Meeting in 1875 . 










11 


Meeting in 1876 . 










12 


Decennial Reunion 










12 


The 15th Anniversary 










13 


The 20th " . 










13 


The 25th 










14 


The 30th 










14 


The 35th 










15 


The 40th 










15 


The 45th 










16 


The Round Robin of 1917 








16 


Biographical Sketches 










20 



FOREWORD 



FOREWORD 

The following notes were in part compiled and 
written by our late classmate, Dr. George M. Whit- 
aker, who was the Secretary of the class at the 
time of his death, August, 1912. That same year 
and month the President of the class, Hon. H. M. 
Heath was also called away and the class was without 
organization until Commencement Day 191 7. Then, 
at an informal meeting at Brunswick the undersigned 
was made Class Secretary, and there was laid upon 
him the work of securing the notes of Mr. Whitaker 
if they could be found, revise and edit them, and 
by correspondence with those members still living 
and with the friends of others, bring our class history 
down to date and prepare it for the printer. That 
he has tried to do; and with what degree of success 
the following pages will show. 

The task, though requiring no little time and 
effort, has been a delightful one. My correspondence 
with classmates has given me great pleasure, and 
some personal letters from them have brought to 
me delightful tidings of them, their circumstances 
and doings — even from some who we feared had 
passed on over the Great Divide. 

Much credit is due to our late secretary Whitaker 
for the excellent notes and biographical sketches he 
left. Also to Classmate Lewis, now president of 



the class, we are under great obligation for so gen- 
erously assuming the expense of printing this volume 
and otherwise aiding in its publication. 

The records of the successive reunions of the 
class, to which the late secretary probably had 
access and which were in part his own, I have not 
been able to find; and had he not compiled and 
left these valuable notes, the history of the class 
would be meagre indeed. The notes I have care- 
fully reviewed and sought to verify, being obliged to 
correct them in only a very few instances. The 
errors I have found are probably fewer than those 
I have made. I have exercised care, however, in 
what I have done, and submit the following pages 
with some degree of satisfaction. I hope their 
perusal will give my Classmates as much pleasure as 
their preparation has given the writer. 

J. S. RICHARDS. 
Walnut Hill, Maine, April 1918. 



BOWDOIN CLASS OF 1872 



BOWDOIN'S CLASS OF 1872 

The class of 1872 entered Bowdoin with thirty-two 
members. Charles Henry Payne and Benjamin 
Edward Furlong never met with the class, while 
Charles J. Brown and James Y. McClintock were 
with us but a short time. These four names were 
dropped from the roll at the beginning of Sophomore 
year and four names were added : Alonzo S. Lambert, 
Augustus Gustavus Wooster, Stone and Spaulding. 
This left the class still numbering thirty-two. 

Early in Junior year five left — Goodwin, Hinks, 
Ireland, McDowell and Wooster; and three were 
added— Atwood, Benson and Ricker. This reduced 
our number to thirty. Later the number was further 
reduced by five— Ayer, Deering, Lambert, Mitchell 
and Totman leaving us, so that the class entered 
Senior year with but twenty-five members. 

During Senior year the class lost Benson and 
Sampson, so that at the close of our collegiate career 
but twenty-three received diplomas. Benson was 
afterward reinstated and his name appears with the 
class in the General Catalogue of 1912. Ackley, 
whose name does not appear there, has more re- 
cently received his diploma, and his name will prob- 
ably appear in subsequent editions of the Catalogue. 

The following is the Roll of all who were at any 
time connected with the class— forty in number — 
together with the residence of each at the time of 
entering : 



Bowdoin College 



Roll of Members 



Abbott, John Getchell,. 
Ackley, Ambrose Virgin, 
Atwood, James Bigelow, 
Ayer, Arthur Burriil, 
Benson, Charles Bemis, . 
Bickford, Warren Franklin, 
Brown, Charles Joseph, 
Coggan, Marcellus, 
Cummings, George Henry, 
Deering, Edgar Henry, . 
Dow, Frederick George, 
Frost, John Sumner, 
Furlong, Benjamin Edward, 
Goodwin, Frank Jones, . 
Gross, Samuel Lane, 
Harris, Herbert, 
Heath, Herbert Milton, 
Hinks, John Lewis Rich, 
Hooker, Walton Olney, . 
Ireland, Franklin Pierce, 
Lambert, Alonzo Stockbridge 
Lewis, Weston, 
Lord, Edwin Howard, . 
M eads, Simeon Pease, . 
Mitchell, Frank Albert, 
McCHntock, James Young, . 
McDowell, William Augustus, 
Payne, Charles Henry,. 



Gardiner. 

Otisville. 

St. Albans. 

Lewiston. 

North Paris. 

Newburgh. 

Woodstock. 

Bristol. 

Portland. 

Portland. 

Portland. 

Springvale. 

Portland. 

Biddeford. 

Brunswick. 

E. Machias. 

Gardiner. 

Brewer. 

Gardiner. 

Newburyport, Mass 

Durham. 

Pittston. 

Springvale. 

S. Limington. 

Phillips. 

Brunswick. 

Washington. 

Newburyport,Mass 



Class of 1872 



Richards, Jehiel Simmons, 
Ricker, Freeman Alonzo, 
Rogers, Osgood Wyman, 
Sampson, Cassander Cary, 
Seiders, George Melville, 
Shannon, William Cummings 
Spaulding, Frank Wood, 
Stone, George Webber, . 
Totman, Everett, 
Whitaker, George Mason, 
Wilder, Harold, . 
Wooster, Augustus Gustavus, 



Bremen. 

Portland. 

Brunswick. 

Harrison. 

Union. 

Cape Elizabeth. 

Bingham. 

Livermore Falls. 

Kendall's Mills. 

Southbridge, Mass. 

Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Hancock. 



Of the above named men there are at this date: 

Living and accounted for: Graduates 12, Non- 
graduates 3. 

Deceased: Graduates 12, Non-graduates 8. 
Present whereabouts unknown 5. 

HONORS RECEIVED 

The following honors, appointments, etc., were 
received by the several members of the class: 

Gross was Senior Bugle Editor. 

Gross and Richards were Senior College Librarians. 

Cummings and Deering received the Brown Memorial 

Scholarship. 
The Chandler Latin prize was awarded to Gross. 
The St. Croix Debate prize, to Wilder. 



Bowdoin College 



Admitted to Phi Beta Kappa: Gross, Harris, 

Heath, Hooker, Meads, Richards, Whitaker. 
Junior Declamation honors went to Coggan ist and 

Wilder 2nd. 
Abbott was Bugle poet '69-'7o. 
Heath was Bugle poet '70-'7i- 
Rogers and Wilder were Junior Bugle Editors. 
Rogers was President (Senior) B.C. Praying Circle. 
Harris was President (Senior) of the College Reading 

Room. 
The Junior Librarian appointees were: Ayer, Gross, 

Harris, McDowell, Meads and Richards. 
Sophomore declamation honors were awarded to 

Abbott and Harris. 
Sewall Latin prize to Harris; Sewall Greek prize to 

Meads. 
Junior parts were given to Ayer, Bickford, Gross, 

Harris, Heath, Meads, Richards and Whitaker. 
Mineralogy prizes were carried off by Ayer, Harris, 

Heath, Spaulding and Whitaker. 
Senior English Composition prizes went to ist Abbott 

and Harris; 2d Rogers. 
Class of '68 prize was given to Abbott and Harris. 
Lewis was President (Senior) of the Base Ball Asso- 
ciation. 
Hooker and Lewis were members of the College 

boat crew. 
Coggan, Hooker, Lewis, Shannon were members of 

the Class crew. 
Ackley was a prominent athlete. 



Class of 1872 5 

Hooker was a leading base ball player. 

Ricker was prominent as a boating man. 

The Freshmen officers were: — President, Seiders; 
Toastmaster, Frost; Orator, Rogers; Poet, Ab- 
bott; Historian, Dow; Prophet, Harris; Odist, 
Heath; Chaplin, Meads; Parting Address, Wilder. 

The members were divided among the Greek 
letter societies as follows : 

Alpha Delta Phi — Gross, Harris, Hinks, Ireland, 
Spaulding. 

Delta Kappa Epsilon — Abbott, Benson, Cummings, 
Frost, McClintock, McDowell, Rogers, Seiders. 

Psi Upsilon — Ayer, Bickford, Dow, Goodwin, Lewis, 
Meads, Ricker, Wilder. 

Zeta Psi — Atwood, Coggan, Heath, Hooker, Mit- 
chell, Richards, Shannon, Totman, Whitaker. 

Theta Delta Chi — Stone. 

Phi C/^i— Abbott, Ackley, Ayer, Coggan, Cummings, 
Dow, Frost, Goodwin, Heath, Hooker, Ireland, 
Lambert, Lewis, Mitchell, Shannon, Totman, 
Whitaker, Wilder. 

Other Items of Credit 

The Class of 1872 was the last of the Bowdoin 
classes to have representatives in the Civil War. 
The names of Bickford, Rogers, and Seiders appear 
on the College Roll of Honor. 

The class left a permanent influence on college life 
in the founding of The Orient. The first issue of 



Bowdoin College 



The Orient was April 3d, 1871; the Editors were 
Coggan, Whitaker, Rogers, Abbott, Heath, and the 
journal has been regularly published to the present 
time. 

This class also gave an impetus to debating, — 
introducing the idea of a class debating club, which, 
known as The '72 Debating Society and editing a 
literary periodical of its own, was very helpful to 
its members, especially during Freshman year, in 
the art of composition and in the study and practice 
of parliamentary law and usage. 

This class was prominent for those days in its 
participation in Athletics, especially in the line of 
boating — Ricker being prominent in both college 
and state rowing. The class sustained a class boat 
crew and had representatives on the college crew 
at one regatta. 

Among the members of the class were a number 
of devoted Christian men who exercised a good 
influence upon the Morale of the college. On the 
other hand the Phi Chi record of the class shows 
that its moral goodness was not of the ultra goody- 
goody sort. 

Since graduation, we believe it is safe to say, 
every member has acquitted himself creditably. 
We have developed neither a Longfellow nor a 
Hawthorne, Chief Justice nor President, but all 
have been men of character, usefulness and good 
standing, and several have attained to a wide and 



Class of 1872 7 

prominent reputation in many walks of life. Five 
at least — Benson, Coggan, Cummings, Lewis and 
Heath have sent their sons to Bowdoin, two have 
served on the Board of Overseers of the College, 
while one, Lewis, is now upon the Board of Trustees. 

The Class of 1872 Scholarship Fund, established 
in 1902, will make the influence of the class upon 
the college, and through the college upon the world, 
to be felt in some measure for many years to come. 

The venerable professor, Alpheus S. Packard, DD., 
was held in the highest esteem by the members of 
this class, and to give expression of their regard for 
him, when about to graduate the class presented 
Prof. Packard with a valuable gold-headed cane. 
That this token of regard was highly prized by the 
professor was evidenced not only by his words of 
grateful appreciation but also by the fact that for 
the remainder of his life he was seldom seen without 
this gold-headed, ebony stick to steady his steps. 

The following appeared in the Orient of about 
that date: — 

"The class of 1872 recently presented to 
Prof. A. S. Packard an elegant gold-headed 
cane. The inscription on the cane was as 
follows: 'Presented to Prof. A. S. Packard 

by the Class of 1872.' " 

The reply of the Professor will speak for itself. 
It is as follows: — 



Bowdoin College 



Messrs. Richer, Dow and Meads :- 

"I cannot adequately express my gratifica- 
tion at the beautiful and very acceptable 
testimonial from the Class of 1872 which 
you represent, of their respect and regard 
for me. My relations to them have been 
very pleasant to me, and I have taken 
peculiar satisfaction in the manner in which 
they have done their work in my depart- 
ment of instruction. Even without such a 
token of their regard I should hold them in 
fond and pleasant remembrance. I beg, 
through their representatives, to assure all 
and each, of my best wishes for their honor 
and welfare in the life just opening before 
them, that they may always have the divine 
rod and staff to comfort them in their 
earthly pilgrimage, and all be partakers of 
the blessedness of the life to come. 

Very sincerely and affectionately, 

ALPHEUS S. PACKARD." 

Bowdoin College, March 20, 1872. 

From Orient, Monday, April 8, 1872. 



CLASS REUNIONS 



Class of 1872 II 

CLASS MEETINGS OR REUNIONS 

Not counting the meeting called immediately 
after graduation in 1872, there have been ten other 
more or less formal reunions of the class. These 
were in 1875, '76, '82, '87, '92, '97, 1902, '07, '12, 
'17; and were held during Commencement Week, 
usually Commencement Day. The number in at- 
tendance at these several meetings was respective- 
ly: — 17, 6, 10, II, 13, II, 14, 8, 9, 4. The records, 
as kept by the respective secretaries, we have not 
been able to find; but from notes left by the last 
secretary and from personal conferences and cor- 
respondence with members of the class now living, 
we are able to give some account of the several 
reunions which we think is quite generally correct. 

In 1872, immediately after the graduating exer- 
cises, an informal meeting of the class was called. 
Lewis was elected president and Bickford secretary 
and treasurer. It was voted to meet again after 
three years. 

In] 1875, being unable to secure fitting accommo- 
dations elsewhere, the class met at No. 30 Main 
Hall. Seventeen were present. It was voted to 
present the Class Cup to Laura E., daughter of 
Classmate Ackley, in recognition of the first child 
of the class. A brief history of the class was presented ; 
an interesting poem was also read by Abbott. Heath 



12 Bowdoin College 



was chosen president and Bickford secretary. So 
well attended and so interesting was this meeting 
that it was voted to meet again the next year. 

In 1876 the class met in a hall over the store of 
Mr. William Fields. Harris reported the presenta- 
tion of the class cup to Baby Ackley. Enthusiasm 
seemed to have waned since the previous meeting; 
only six were present. Rogers was elected president, 
Cummings was made secretary, treasurer and execu- 
tive ofificer. It was voted to meet upon the tenth 
anniversary of graduation, 1882, and to have regular 
reunions every fifth year thereafter. 

The Decennial Reunion, 1882, was held 
at the Preble House, Portland. At this reunion 
secretary Cummings reported the death of two of 
our members, in these words: "Ricker, genial and 
pleasant, bravely struggling for health in the Adiron- 
dacks. While sorry to be his pall-bearer, it was a 
melancholy pleasure to represent '72 on the occasion. 
Hooker, silent yet ever smiling, died in a foreign 
land. By strict attention to business he had become 
master of a ship. To both we give a heartfelt 
vale. 

Harris was elected president and Cummings 
secretary. Abbot presided at the post-prandial ex- 
ercises with a long list of apt sentiments, among 
which was the following: "To our departed class- 
mates, Hooker and Ricker: In the morning of 



Class of 1872 13 

life Death touched their eyeUds and they fell asleep. 
They can no more hear us; we can no more see them; 
the grave may keep their dust; silence may still 
their lives; but our hearts will keep warm their love, 
our memories their deeds and our lips the praise 
of these two noble, true and manly men." 

The greetings of the class were sent to Professor 
Packard "for his kind Christian bearing toward us 
while students," and to Ex-President Harris with 
"our hearty respects and best wishes." Ten were 
present at this meeting. 

The 15TH Anniversary of the class was 
observed at the Toutine Hotel, Brunswick, 1887. 
Spaulding was elected president and Cummings 
secretary. Eleven were present. The death of 
Abbott was reported by the secretary, who made 
this annotation: "Those of us present at our de- 
cennial meeting, will not forget the hearty, enthu- 
siastic manner in which he presided as toastmaster 
on that occasion." A pleasant time was spent in 
reminiscences and in renewing acquaintances. Heath 
read extracts from the class prophecy. 

The 20TH Anniversary of the class in 1892, 
was held at the Falmouth Hotel in Portland. Thir- 
teen were present. The death of Frost was reported, 
and Seiders eloquently eulogized his memory. Seiders 
was elected president, and Cummings re-elected 
secretary. 



14 Bowdoin College 



The 25TH Anniversary in 1897 was ob- 
served at the Pennel House on Pleasant Street in 
Brunswick. There were eleven present. Heath was 
elected president and Cummings continued as secre- 
tary. The evening was spent in pleasant reminis- 
cences and in felicitous congratulations to the dif- 
ferent members of the class as each reported his 
experiences and successes during the quarter-century 
that had passed since graduation. 

The 30TH Anniversary Reunion was at 
Merrymeeting Park, Ju^e 25th, 1902. There were 
fourteen present. The deaths of Dow and Mitchell 
were reported. The usual pleasant interchange of 
experiences and happy reminiscences took place. 

It was voted that the class contribute to the college 
$2,500.00 as a Class of 1872 Scholarship and sub- 
scriptions to that fund were offered. Much credit 
is due Classmate Lewis for his very generous sub- 
scription and promises which assured the success 
of the undertaking. At this meeting Heath was re- 
elected president and Cummings secretary of the 
class. Ackley reported that he was a grandfather; 
Benson, that his son graduated with honors that 
year. 

President Heath, who was also President of the 
Electric Railroad Company at the time, courteously 
provided his commodious private car for conveying 
the class from Brunswick on this occasion. 



Class of 1872 15 



The 35TH Anniversary Reunion, 1907, was 
held at the Columbia Hotel, Portland. Eight 
members were present. The death of secretary 
Cummings was reported. Heath was re-elected 
president and Whitaker was made secretary. The 
usual pleasant hour was passed in social intercourse 
and the exchange of experiences. At this meeting 
the members of the class were very graciously greeted 
by Mrs. Everett Totman who was with her husband 
at the hotel. 

At the 40T11 Anniversary the class met 
at the Falmouth Hotel, Portland, June 22, 1912. 
There were nine members present. The same officers 
were re-elected — Heath, president and Whitaker, 
secretary. The secretary read the minutes of the 
previous meeting, also communications to the class 
from Meads, Rogers and Wilder. Those present 
made reports of experiences and incidents in their 
lives during the five years passed since the last 
meeting. The importance of having a class history 
prepared and printed was discussed to some extent 
and the secretary agreed to collect and collate ma- 
terial for such a volume as he had opportunity — little 
thinking that in two short months the heavy hand 
of "the last enemy" would be laid upon him and his 
opportunities for service would be closed. Both 
Heath and Whitaker, the president and secretary 
of the class died the following August. 



l6 Bowdoin College 



The 45TH Anniversary of the class gradua- 
tion arrived. The class had been without officers 
or organization during the last five years and no 
special arrangements were made for a reunion. An 
informal meeting was held however, after the Com- 
mencement dinner, June 21, 1917. Only four were 
present. Lewis was duly elected president of the 
class and Richards secretary. 

Reminiscences were indulged in. A very pleasant 
incident of the past winter was recalled — the Round 
Robin sent out by Bickford, from Muskogee, Okla- 
homa, December 10, 19 16. It went by mail from 
member to member "taking Christmas and New 
Year's greetings to all the dear fellows of '72." This 
"Round Robin" returned the next Spring. It was 
signed by eleven of the twelve graduated members 
of the class now living. In order to preserve the 
memory of this much appreciated document, we 
give here Mr. Bickford's second circular letter entire. 

Muskogee, Okla., Apr. 26, 1917. 
Dear Classmate: 

The "Round Robin" has returned, the dearest of 
all the birds of Spring. Its song is most sweet to 
me. This is what I hear: 

Voice of Ackley, Peaks Island, Maine. "Ten of 

the dear old Class of '72." 
Voice of Gross: "Memories of old associations that 

grow dearer as the years go by." 



Class of 1872 17 

Of Harris: "Heartiest good wishes for prosperity 

and happiness to all." 
Of Lewis: "Have kept in close touch with the 

college. Greetings to all." 
Of Meads: "Greetings to all the boys of '72." 
Of Richards: "May Christmas peace and a Happy 

New Year be the glad lot of all my dear Class- 
mates." 
Of Rogers: "Enjoying the sunny, declining days; 

wish the same for all of '72." 
Of Sampson: "Looking forward to our reunion in 

June, — wish the western members might be 

there. Best wishes for all my Class." 
Of Spaulding: "Most sincere greetings to all the 

remaining classmates of Bowdoin '72." 
Of Wilder: "'Tis a grand world to be alive in. I 

hope of survival a while yet." 
"Finally, with love and best wishes to all, the voice 

of Bick." 

At this meeting the question of a class history 
was again taken up. Richards reported that he 
had seen in the College library much material from 
which such a history could be written, and he thought 
the notes left by the late secretary Whitaker, who 
had promised at the last meeting, to do something 
in this line, might be found. Whereupon it was 
Voted that the secretary prepare during the 
coming year, a brief history of the class with bio- 



i8 



Bowdoin College 



graphical sketches of its members, as best he could, 
and the president promised to see to its being printed. 
This is the last of the reunions reported before 
the record goes to the printer; but it is to be hoped 
that surviving members of the class will have many 
a happy sitting together with our dear Alma Mater 
on Commencement Days as the years roll on. May 
the 50th Anniversary find us one and all there 
gathered. 

J. S. R. 



BIOGRAPHICAL 

SKETCHES 



20 Bowdoin College 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 

Brief historical sketches of the Hves of members 
of the class are here given. Data for these bio- 
graphical sketches have been obtained by different 
class secretaries covering a considerable period of 
time. The present secretary has no means of verify- 
ing much of what is given, but has done his best 
to have the notes accurate. If any one, whether of 
the class or not, detect errors, we shall be glad to 
have them pointed out that they may be corrected 
in a possible revised future edition of this volume. 

The members of the class will be mentioned in 
alphabetical order. 

An index to these sketches will be found at the 
close of this volume. 



Class of 1^72 21 



ABBOTT 

John Getciiell Abbott was born in Wind- 
sor, Maine, April 17, 1848. Upon graduating in 
1872, he took a trip abroad, and on returning he 
took up the study of law and was admitted to the 
bar the following year. He then made a hurried 
visit to our western states, and on returning engaged 
in newspaper and political work — practicing law in 
Biddeford, Maine, 1873-76 and in Boston, Massa- 
chusetts, 1876-84. In Biddeford he was editor of 
the Biddeford Times. He prepared an article on 
"Prohibition in Maine" for the Democratic State 
Committee of Massachusetts, and was frequently on 
the stump during political campaigns. He was 
admitted to practice at the Suffolk County Bar, 
Massachusetts in 1877. 

Abbott was present at the Centennial reunion of 
the class, at the Preble House, Portland, in 1882, and 
at that time was conscious of the presence in his 
system of tuberculosis which finally caused his 
death at Dorchester, Massachusetts, April 23, 1886, 
at only thirty-eight years of age. 

In a letter to a friend a few years prior to his 
death, Abbott wrote: — "I have never held office and 
I have sought none. I have only been trying to 
spread life. I prefer to retain my manhood, my 
independence and my personal peace." 

Another writer said of him: "Abbott was a man 



22 Bowdoin College 



of much natural ability and of unusual ambition. 
He was a fluent speaker and writer, and a young man 
of much promise. 

He married in 1876 Mrs. Lizzie W. Corr. 



Class of 1872 23 

ACKLEY 

Ambrose Virgin Ackley, son of John and 
Polly (Penley) Ackley, was born February 2, 
1848, in Rumford, Maine. His paternal grandfather 
was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and his 
maternal grandfather, a soldier of the War of 18 12. 
Ackley 's folks removed to Otisfield in 1852, where 
his boyhood days were passed upon a farm and at- 
tending the district school. The years 1864 and 1865 
he lived in Pennsylvania; and visiting Washington, 
D. C, he prides himself upon being presented to 
President Lincoln, at one of his receptions. He 
fitted for college at North Bridgton Academy and 
Norway High School, Rogers being a classmate. 
The winters of 1866, '67, '68 and '69 he taught school 
in Otisfield, where he had formerly attended. 

Upon his examination for entrance to Bowdoin 
he was complimented for his proficiency in history, 
a notable characteristic of the man. During his 
college course he was a lover of sports, particularly 
running, wrestling and base ball. In the fall of 
'68 he took the prize cup for running in an athletic 
contest at Bowdoin. The next year he took the 
prize in the 200 yard dash, and on July 4, 1870, at 
the opening of a new trotting park at Lewiston, he 
took first money, $25, in a half-mile running contest 
open to all New England. 

The winter of '70-'7i, Ackley taught school at 



24 Bowdoin College 

Bristol, Maine, and fall of '71, (after attending the 
Topsham Fair,) he went to Peak's Island, was prin- 
cipal of the Grammar School twelve weeks during 
the winter, and the next spring was engaged in the 
same capacity for one year. Here, he has continued 
to live to the present time, teaching here many 
years and two years at Cape Elizabeth. 

In '73 Ackley married Mary E. Skillingsof Peak's 
Island, and to them have been born four children: 
Laura E. married and mother of seven children, 
one in the service of his country and one a teacher; 
Ethel M., a nurse; Edward P., a graduate of U. of 
M., an occulist at Brunswick and temporarily in- 
structor in wireless telegraphy at Bowdoin; Adrian 
L., just graduated from the Portland High School. 

Ackley was made a Master Mason in '70, a Chapter 
Mason in '71, joined the Portland Council in '95, 
and the St. Alban Commandery, Knights Templars 
in 1910. A letter from him last February says: 
"My life has been uneventful for the last 25 years. 
During that time I have been much in the employ 
of the city, had charge of the public buildings on 
the island belonging to the city, and have been 
warden of this voting precinct for more than 30 
consecutive years. I await the last summons here 
at my ifeland home." 



Class of 1872 25 

ATWOOD 

James Bigelow Atwood was born at Williams- 
burg, Maine, January 10, 1846, and died of 
tuberculosis of the throat, April 23, 1904. His 
life was quietly passed in teaching school and farm- 
ing. He taught for some time in Epping, New 
Hampshire and in Oxford, Massachusetts. 

The following data was secured from his family, 
soon after his death, by Mr. Whitaker: — 

"J- B. Atwood was born January 10, 1846, and 
died April 23, 1904 at the age of 58 years and three 
months. He married first Miss Abbie Lord, daughter 
of Dea. J. H. K. Lord of Skowhegan, and had three 
children. The second son died at seven years of 
age. The eldest, Elmer C. is in business at Penacook, 
New Hampshire. The daughter, Evelyn C, is a 
school teacher. 

Mr. Atwood's second wife was Mrs. Weeks of 
Hartland, Maine. He followed teaching in St. Albans 
until health partially failed, then went back to the 
farm until 1890, when he moved to Waterville to 
educate his children, and taught some during the 
four years. He was superintendent of schools 
much of the time while in St. Albans, also superin- 
tendent of the Sunday School many years. Was a 
devoted member of the M. E. church, his father hav- 
ing been a Methodist Clergyman. He was especially 
frank and sincere in character." 



26 Bowdoin College 



AVER 

Arthur Burrill Ayer was born November i6, 
1851, at Clinton, Massachusetts, but came to 
Bowdoin from Lewiston, Maine. He lost his health 
while in college and fell out of the ranks during 
Junior year, going upon a farm in Methuen, Massa- 
chusetts, where he regained his health in a measure. 
Writing to the class for the 1907 reunion he stated 
that he was managing a dairy farm which his father 
had owned and which then in part belonged to him. 
He had fairly good health, weight was 175 pounds, 
but was unable to do much reading or writing, his 
eyes having been overstrained years before. 

In 1 910 he sold the farm upon which he had lived 
thirty-five years and "drifted about from place to 
place" for the next two years, when he went to 
New London, Connecticut. A letter from him 
dated New London, January 25, 191 8, said the 
climate so agreed with him there that he hoped 
to round out his three score year and ten; health 
good; had no regular occupation; was living upon 
his income which, with strict economy, was suffi- 
cient for his personal needs, — having never married; 
walked much in the open air for the sake of his 
health. Ayer had spent his winters in New London; 
but his summers were spent at some seaside resort — 
usually at Cresent Beach, Connecticut. He gave 
as his permanent address: No. 44 High Street, 
Methuen, Massachusetts, whence mail would be 
forwarded to him wherever he might be. 



Class of 1872 27 

BENSON 

Charles Bemis Benson, son of Cyprian and 
Charlotte (Bemis) Benson, was born February 27, 
1846, at Paris, Maine, fitted at Hebron Academy 
and entered Colby College in 1864. After entering 
he spent some time in teaching school and finally 
took up his connection with Colby in 1870, and 
entered Bowdoin as a junior. After graduation 
he studied law in the office of Messrs. Strout and 
Holmes, Portland, and was admitted to the Oxford 
County bar in 1874, and opened an office at North 
Paris, Maine. 

Mr. Benson pursued the practice of his profession 
at North Paris rather than in the larger community, 
from a commendable spirit of filial consideration 
for a dependent father and invalid sister, that he 
might be near them to render any assistance they 
might need. He himself had been in poor health 
and retired from practice some years before his 
death, which occured March 22, 1915, from Bright's 
disease. Five of his later years he lived with his 
son at Snows Falls. 

Mr. Benson married November 21, 1878 Mary 
Emogene Hammond who shared his life for only 
sixteen months, dying March 24, 1880. Their only 
child is Robert Sanford Benson of Snows Falls, who 
graduated from Bowdoin college, class of 1902. 



28 Bowdoin College 



BICKFORD 

Warren Franklin Bickford was born 
January 31, 1842, at Newburg, Maine. He fitted 
for college under Professor S. W. Stanton at Dummer 
Academy, Byfield, Massachusetts, received his A. B. 
degree from Bowdoin college in 1872, and A. M. in 
1892. In August 1872 he married Sarah Wilder, 
daughter of Dea. Horace Wilder of Dixmont, 
Maine. He taught school two terms and began 
ministerial work in the spring of 1873, a missionary 
in northern Maine. In the fall of 1874 he entered 
Bangor Theological Seminary in the Junior class, 
and graduated in 1876; was ordained and installed 
pastor of the Congregational church at Winthrop, 
Maine, June 20, 1876, In August 1880, he accepted 
a call to Breckenridge, Colorado, where he worked 
till 1883, then at Manitou Springs till 1885. In 
1885 he accepted a pastorate at Lorin (Berkeley), 
California and labored five years. In 1890 he 
returned to New England and was pastor at Islington 
(Dedham), Massachusetts, fourteen years. In July 
1904, he received a call to Muskogee, then Indian 
Territory, now Oklahoma, and labored as a general 
missionary for the Christian denomination — organiz- 
ing churches, preaching and finding preachers — a 
few years. Writing to the class reunion in 1912, he 
says: "For the last three years I have had to give 
up the active ministry on account of my voice. In 



Class of 1872 29 

other respects I am well and my hands find many 
things to do with tools. I have one household 
invention on the market, and the first steps have 
been taken for a patent. My best wishes and 
fervent prayers are for all my classmates whom 
these forty years only bring nearer to my heart." 

Writing again in February 1918, he says that 
nothing in particular has happened in his experience 
during the last few years. His residence is still 
at Muskogee, Oklahoma No. 21 10 Elizabeth Street. 

Mr. and Mrs. Bickford have two children and one 
grandchild. A daughter, Mary P., born 1879 has 
been for years a stenographer and clerk in the Indian 
Agency at Muskogee and also a skillful musician 
and organist in the Episcopal church of that city. 
Warren FrankUn, Jr. was born in 1887. He went 
into newspaper work and has held creditable posi- 
tions in Muskogee, Guthrie and elsewhere, and at 
present is managing Editor of the Oklahoma News. 
Warren Franklin Bickford 3d was born at Guthrie, 
Oklahoma, February 1918. 

Classmate Bickford was a soldier in the Civil 
War, serving as a private in Co. L, First D. C. Baker's 
Cavalry and in Co. B, First Maine Cavalry. 



30 Bowdoin College 



BROWN 

Charles Joseph Brown entered Bowdoin 
from Woodstock, Maine, and is catalogued as being 
with the class in 1868-69, and having been born 
in Medford, Massachusetts, May 10, 1846. The 
writer does not recall the man and so far has been 
unable to find any trace of him. 



Class of 1872 31 

COGGAN 

Marcellus Coggan was born September 6, 
1847, at Bristol, Maine. Attended a good district 
school near his home, where he made good progress 
and obtained a fair common school education. He 
tried the sea for a while and made some voyages in 
the coastwise trade and to the West Indies. He soon 
gave up the "fo'castle," however, and sought a more 
extended education. He fitted for college at Lincoln 
Academy, in Newcastle, Maine, where he was a 
classmate with Seiders, McDowell and Richards. 
He was largely dependent upon his own resources 
for an education, but possessed courage and perse- 
verance as the following incident will show. One of 
his class feared he would never be able to have a 
college course, but intended to fit and go as far as 
he could. Coggan replied: "I'll go through college 
or I'll go through hell." He went. 

Upon graduating Coggan, having already had 
some experience in teaching, became principal of 
Nichols Academy, Dudley, Massachusetts and taught 
there till 1879, serving also upon the school board 
in Dudley. He studied law with Child & Powers of 
Boston, residing at that time in Maiden, Massachu- 
setts; and was admitted to the Suffock County 
Bar in 1881. Practiced law with Child & Powers, 
1 88 1 to 1886; then formed a partnership with the 
late William Scolfield, afterwards Judge Scolfield of 



32 Bowdoin College 



the U. S. District Court, this copartnership continuing 
ten years. He then practiced alone from 1896 to 
1900. Coggan married November 26, 1872 Luella 
B. Robbins of his native town, and they have three 
children — Florence B., M. Sumner, and Linus C. 
Coggan. In 1900, Mr. Coggan and his son, M. 
Sumner, formed a partnership under the firm name, 
Coggan & Coggan; and in 19 10, the second son, 
Linus C. Coggan also joined the firm. Afterward 
they took into the firm George L. Dillaway, a graduate 
of Bowdoin, class of 1898. Classmate Coggan was 
Mayor of Maiden, Massachusetts in 1886 and 1887. 
He founded the Maiden Co-operative Bank in 1887, 
and was its president till 1898. In politics he has 
been a Republican all his life. Is a member of the 
Masonic Fraternity and the I.O.O.F. and a member 
of the Universalist church. His home is in Win- 
chester, Massachusetts, and his ofifice at 941 Tremont 
Building, Boston. 



Class of 1872 33 



CUMMINGS 

George H. Cummings was born in Portland, 
Maine, April 6, 1850, the only son of Daniel 
Cummings, for many years a well known carpenter 
and builder. He fitted for college in the schools of 
his native city, and after graduating from Bowdoin, 
he studied medicine at the Medical School of Maine 
and took the degree of M. D. at the College of Physi- 
cians and Surgeons in New York City in 1875; also 
his A. M. from Bowdoin the same year. With a 
thorough medical education, Dr. Cummings at 
once began the practice of his profession in his 
home city, where steadily gaining high rank he soon 
built up a very extensive practice. 

From 1890 to 1903, thirteen years, he was on the 
staff of surgeons at the Maine General Hospital, 
where he was regarded as a most skillful physician 
and surgeon and was much respected by his fellow 
practitioners. He was also very kind and sympathetic 
in his treatment of patients and had a host of friends. 

In 1880 he was elected city physician; was a member 
of the Board of Health for nine years, resigning in 
July 1902. While upon this board a small pox epi- 
demic broke out in the city, and Dr. Cummings 
during that troublesome period rendered valiant 
service to thousands of people — going to the office 
of the board in the city building every day for many 
weeks and, with Dr. H. P. Merrill, his associate, 



34 Bowdoin College 



vaccinating the throngs who came to him for that 
purpose. Here his energies were severely taxed, and 
this strain, with his large private practice undoubtedly 
resulted in breaking down a physical system which 
hitherto had been well nigh perfect. During the 
summer of 1903, he had been particularly busy, and 
in order to secure a little relaxation from professional 
cares, he decided the latter part of August to take 
a yachting trip with two of his friends. While on 
the yacht, in the vicinity of Boothbay, he was 
taken suddenly ill with acute indigestion and died 
on board the yacht in Boothbay Harbor, August 22, 
1903. 

Dr. Cummings married, June 11, 1879, Miss Anda 
C. Otis of Brunswick, who still resides in Portland. 
Their son, George Otis Cummings, graduated at 
Bowdoin, class 191 3, studied at the Bowdoin Medical 
School and was a house doctor at the Maine General 
Hospital. Last June 1917, he entered the U. S. 
Naval service at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 
In December 19 17, he sailed for France and Is at 
this writing Asst. Surgeon, U. S. A., in a base hospital 
"somewhere in France." 



Class of 1872 35 

DEERING 

Edgar Henry Deering was born in Portland, 
Maine, March 4, 1851, and fitted for college 
in the High School of that city. He left college, 
however, during Sophomore year, on account of 
ill health, — a celebrated physician advising him so 
to do if he wished to live. He is still very much 
alive in Auburn, Maine, and in a late letter inti- 
mates that he expects to live to 85 or 90 years. He 
taught school 1871-74, in various places and with 
success; was engaged as an accountant, 1875-80; 
and in business, 1881-83. He then was engaged in 
farming at Minot, Maine, 1883-91, when he "retired 
with a competence increasing every year, being 
what the French would call a rentier.'' He now 
resides at No. 200 Gamage Avenue, Auburn, Maine. 
He writes that he is still interested in learning some- 
thing every day. He has given himself especially 
to the study of Astronomy, so that he has a masterful 
grasp of that science and might almost be called a 
walking cyclopaedia of history. 

Deering has been twice married, has a faithful 
helpmate in his home, and a son living with his 
wife and daughter in Wilmington, Delaware. 



36 Bowdoin College 



DOW 

Frederick George Dow was born in St. 
John, New Brunswick, August 24, 1851. His 
preparation for college was made at the High School 
in Portland, Maine. After graduating he was an 
attorney's clerk, and also taught school in Norwalk, 
Connecticut, later entering the Law School of Colum- 
bia University, New York. He graduated from the 
law school in 1875, and received the degree of LL.B. 
from Columbia, and began the practice of law in 
New York City. 

He was very successful in his profession and 
secured a number of prominent and wealthy clients. 
He was also connected with many important business 
enterprises, mostly manufacturing. In addition to 
his professional work, he was a great reader and 
fond of botany and golfing for recreation. He died 
December 28, 1901, after a week's illness from 
pneumonia. 

One wrote of him: "Dow was a man of ready 
wit and had an exquisite humorous dryness of speech, 
which made him very companionable. He was 
generous and kind and of transparent integrity." 
Upon his demise the directors of the American 
Hard Rubber Company passed the following resolu- 
tion: "By Mr. Dow's death this company has been 
deprived of a wise counsellor, a faithful and trusty 



Class 0/1872 37 

director and a helpful supporter in all its affairs, 
which he watched over with deep interest." 

Dow was married in October 1876, to Miss Emily 
Schlosinger of College Point, Long Island. A son 
Harold, named after his college classmate and chum, 
was born in July 1877, and died at the age of nine 
years. 



38 Bowdoin College 



FROST 

John Sumner Frost was born at Springvale, 
Maine, April 7, 1851, and fitted for college in his 
native town, receiving the degree of A. B. from 
Bowdoin in 1872 and that of A. M. in 1875. Soon 
after graduating he entered upon his chosen pro- 
fession, teaching, for which he possessed rare natural 
as well as intellectual qualifications. His first 
position was as principal of the High School at Thom- 
aston, Maine, where he served five years. In the fall 
of 1877 he removed to Whitinsville, Massachusetts, 
and taught till the spring of 1879, when he was 
compelled to resign on account of ill health. After 
a temporary rest, he accepted a position as assistant 
in the Lawrence, Massachusetts High School, which 
position he held until 1887, when he was compelled 
again to quit work and retired to his father's home 
in Springvale, where he died of tuberculosis and 
rheumatism, October 2, 1887. The local paper 
said of him: "Never long free from pain, the 
fidelity with which he discharged his duties required 
a fortitude that was only equaled by the cheerfulness 
and grace of his spirit. He was a man of excellent 
scholarship and exemplary character, and an illus- 
tration of how much one can make of life for self 
and others, even under physical infirmity. He 
was one whom it was a privilege to know and whom 
to know was to esteem; those who knew him best. 



Class of 1872 39 



loved him most. The interest he felt in his work 
and pupils was more than professional and hence 
he held more than a professional place in their esteem." 

One of the teachers of the Lawrence High School 
paid him the following tribute in the Lawrence 
American. "For many years he had been afflicted 
with chronic rheumatism, and his patience and 
Christian resignation were the wonder of all who 
knew him. Although never free from physical 
pain, he was always cheerful and one of the most 
delightful companions. A ready talker, possessing 
a cultivated mind and a wonderful memory, it was 
a pleasure to be in his company and listen to his 
conversation. As a teacher he was very strong and 
efficient, the result of his thorough scholarship in 
nearly every department, and of the power possessed 
by few educators, of being able to clothe even a dry 
subject with interest. His kindness and readiness to 
help gained him the love of all his pupils, and he has 
left with them a remembrance of his faith and devo- 
tion which will cause them ever to venerate his 
memory and to seek to emulate his example. The 
words of the great poet have a peculiar fitness when 
applied to his character: 'His life was gentle, and the 
elements so mixed in him that nature might stand 
up and say to all the world, This was a man.' " 

Mr. Frost married Althea L. Brackett, of Chelsea, 
Massachusetts, October 25, 1877. They had no 
children. 



40 Bowdoin College 



At his funeral services in Springvale, his pastor, 
Rev. F. G. Davis spoke, at the request of the de- 
ceased, from Rev. 14:13, upon the subject of "REST;" 
which had been a precious thought with our brother 
in his last illness. The floral tributes at these ser- 
vices spoke effectively of the esteem and affection 
in which he was held. They were notable for their 
abundance and beauty. Among them was a pillow 
of symbolic design containing his name, and another 
with the words "AT REST." From his pupils of 
the Lawrence High School was a large and beautiful 
open book made of the finest of flowers, and from his 
fellow teachers of the same school a basket of choice 
roses and ferns and an elegant bouquet. 



Class of 1872 41 

FURLONG 

The name of Benjamin Edward Furlong 
is found in the list of those who entered Bowdoin in 
1868 and made the class of '^2, but we can find no 
further record of him. His name does not appear 
in either of the late catalogues of Bowdoin students, 
graduates or non-graduates. He probably took the 
entrance examination but did not take up study 
with the class. He was listed as coming from Port- 
land, Maine. 



42 Bowdoin College 

GOODWIN 

Francis Jones Goodwin, son of John Monroe 
and Harriet Proctor Goodwin, was born in 
Biddeford, Maine, January 12, 1852 and died at 
Boston, Massachusetts, May 31, 191 1. He was 
educated in the public schools of his native city and 
a graduate of its High School, entering Bowdoin in 
1868 where he became a member of the Class of '72. 

He left the class early in Junior year, going to 
Amherst, Massachusetts, receiving from Amherst 
College the degree of A. B. in the class of 1873. 

He married, 1875, Emily R. Milliken, daughter of 
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Milliken of Brantford, 
Ontario, Canada. She died some years later, leaving 
two children — Austin Monroe and Emily Milliken 
Goodwin. The son is a member of the editorial 
staff of the Portland Evening Express; the daughter 
married James Austin Bartlett, Bowdoin 1906, who 
is now a submaster of the Maiden, Massachusetts 
High School. 

After graduating at Amherst, Mr. Goodwin engaged 
in the general insurance business at Biddeford and 
remained there ten or more years, when the family 
removed to Maiden, Massachusetts, and resided 
there until Mrs. Goodwin's death. Mr. Goodwin 
carried on the insurance brokerage business in Maiden 
and Boston. 

He was of a literary turn of mind and wrote fre- 



Class of 1872 43 

quently for newspapers and magazines. For a 
short time he was book reviewer of the Philadelphia 
Record. 

At the time of his death he was a widower living 
in Boston, A shock of paralysis was the immediate 
cause of his death. 



44 Bowdoin College 



GROSS 

Samuel Lane Gross was born in Brunswick, 
Maine, November i8, 1846, and fitted for college in 
the Brunswick schools. After graduation he taught 
school at Norwalk, Connecticut, 1872, '73 and '74. 
He studied law in 1874 and '75 at Columbia Uni- 
versity, and was admitted to the bar in '76, establish- 
ing a law office in the Evening Post Building, 206 
Broadway, New York City. There he has continued 
in active practice down to the date of this writing. 
He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society by 
the Bowdoin chapter, and received the degrees of 
A. B. and A. M. from the college, and that of LL. B. 
from Columbia University, New York. 

He married, July 30, 1903, Miss Adelaide Louise 
Beekman. 

A letter from him in 1912 said: 'There has been 
no special or unusual incident in my life since our 
last class reunion. I have continued in the practice 
of law in this city during that time as during the 
previous thirty-one years. I know by mathematical 
calculation that the number of years is correct, but 
that is the only way in which I can fully realize it." 
In March 1918, he writes that he has been quite ill 
three months, with pneumonia and bronchitis. He 
also says in this letter: "I have never held nor 
sought a public office, though I have always taken 
earnest interest in the public affairs of my city, 
state and nation. Am grateful that I am able to 
say that I feel Providence has been very kind to me." 



Class of 1872 45 

HARRIS 

Herbert Harris, son of Peter Talbot and 
Deborah (Longfellow) Harris, was born at East 
Machias, December 17, 1846. His preparatory 
education was at Washington Academy, East Ma- 
chias. Received the degree of A. B from Bowdoin 
College in 1872, and that of A. M. in 1875. After 
graduation he spent one year at E. Machias on 
account of poor health. He was a student at the 
Boston Conservatory of Music 1873-76, and later 
under private teachers in Boston, till 1883. Then 
for ten years, on account of feeble health of his 
mother, he was with her at East Machias, looking 
after her affairs and settling her estate after her de- 
mise in 1893. 

He was organist and choir director at East Machias, 
Bangor, Portland and Boston, retiring in 1905. 
During the college year of 1 899-1 900, he spent much 
of the time in Brunswick where he had two nephews 
in college. 

Harris has been an active worker in Free-masonry 
and held important offices in governing bodies in 
Maine, — Grand Commander, Knights Templar of 
Maine, 1899-1900; Grand Organist, Supreme Council 
33" Masons of Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of 
the United States, 1903-1906; and received the order 
of the Grand Cross of the Red Cross of Constantine, 
which is limited in the United States to fifty re- 



46 Bowdoin College 



cipients. He was instrumental in establishing the 
Royal Arch Chapter in East Machias; the Com- 
mandery of Knights Templar Lodge of Perfection 
and Council of Princes of Jerusalem in Machias; 
and the Conclave of Knights of the Red Cross of 
Constantine in Bangor. 

He has been a member of the Maine Society of 
the Sons of the American Revolution, the Maine 
Historical Society and the Maine Geneological 
Society. 

After retiring from the practice of his profession, 
Harris spent three summers in European travel, 
going over in alternate years. Since 1906, he has 
been active in spreading a knowledge of the inter- 
national language, Esperanto, holding office in the 
Esperanto Association of North America, and being a 
member of International Com. Esperantists, iQog-'io. 

Harris never married. His present address is 
Hyde Park Hotel, Chicago, Illinois. 



Class 0/1872 47 

HEATH 

Herbert M. Heath was born in Gardiner, 
Maine, August 27, 1853. His father, A. M. C. 
Heath, was the founder, owner and editor of Gardiner 
Home Journal, who enlisted, summer of 1862, in the 
i6th Me. Regt. and was killed in the battle of Fred- 
ericksburg, under Gen. Burnside. Herbert was 
educated in the public schools of Gardiner, graduated 
from its High School summer of 1868 and entered 
Bowdoin that Autumn, the youngest member of 
the class. 

He was one of the editors of the Bugle, Junior 
year, helped found the Bowdoin Orient, being one 
of its editors. He took one of the prizes in Mineralogy 
and was one of the Phi Beta Kappa men, returning 
three years after graduation to deliver the vale- 
dictory in Latin — a custom since abandoned. 

At the legislative sessions of 1866-69, he was a 
page in the Maine State Senate. During the winters 
of 1871-73, he was Asst. Secretary of the Senate, 
working at the same time as correspondent of several 
daily papers. 

Upon graduating Heath taught at Limerick Acad- 
emy, fall of 1872. The next spring he was elected 
Principal of Washington Academy at East Machias, 
teaching there until the summer of 1876. During 
the vacations of these years and working early and 
late in term time, he studied law under the direction 



48 Bowdoin College 



of Judge Charles Danforth of the Supreme Court, 
receiving valuable assistance also from the Hon. 
John C. Talbot of East Machias. He was admitted 
to the Kennebec County Bar and opened a law office 
in Augusta, in August 1876, and on the 27th of 
that month married Laura S. Gardner of East Ma- 
chias. 

In March 1878, he was made city solicitor of 
Augusta, serving one year. In September 1879, 
he was elected County Attorney for the County of 
Kennebec, serving until January i, 1883, having 
been elected in the fall of 1882 to the Maine House 
of Representatives. Here he was assigned to the 
Judiciary Committee, made chairman of the com- 
mittee on Congressional Apportionment and placed 
upon the Committee on revision of the statutes; 
and during the legislative recess he was one of the 
assistant commissioners to aid Judge Goddard in 
that revision. 

In the fall of 1883, Heath essayed to follow Horace 
Greeley's advice to go west and went to Minneapolis. 
A stay of two months sufficed and he returned to 
Maine. He was re-elected to the Maine legislature 
in 1884, and again served on the Judiciary Com- 
mittee. Two years later he was elected to the 
Maine Senate and made chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee; was re-elected in 1888, lost by one 
vote an election to the Presidency of the Senate, 
but served again as chairman of the Judiciary Com- 



Class of 1872 49 

mittee. It was said of him that during his long 
career as a lawyer and in the service of the State; 
he drafted more laws than any other man in Maine. 
From that time Heath held no public office, although 
taking a great interest in politics, being prominent at 
political conventions. He was made chairman of 
the Republican State Convention in 1892, and at 
the convention of 1896, at the request of Thomas B. 
Reed and Nelson Dingley, he wrote the platform of 
his party. He was President of the Maine Bar 
Association, 1896-97 and was lecturer at the U. of M. 
Law School from 19 10. He twice declined an ap- 
pointment to the Supreme bench. He succeeded 
at one time in winning a claim before Congress that 
had been unsuccessfully prosecuted by Edwin M. 
Stanton and Jeremiah S. Black; and on a motion 
of Gen. Henderson of Iowa, a leader in the House, 
he was admitted and sworn at the Bar of the United 
States Supreme Court. 

Heath was most loyal to his party in every political 
campaign, speaking in almost every city and town 
in Maine, where, it is said from 1878 to 1912, outside 
of his professional capacity, he made more than a 
thousand speeches for the party with which he was 
so long identified. Moreover, from 1873 he always 
gave his services without price to some Grand Army 
post on Memorial Day, every year without exception. 
These old veterans were comrades of his father, and 
he deemed it a duty to do what he could for them 



50 Bowdoin College 



in their annual memorial services. "For forty 
consecutive years he never failed to make a Memorial 
Day address." 

Heath was made an Overseer of his college in 
191 1 ; and was several times invited to address the 
undergraduates of Bowdoin, on "The Proper Train- 
ing for Public Speaking." 

He died of acute indigestion at Augusta, Maine, 
August 18, 1 912, survived by his wife and four chil- 
dren, Marion, Gardner, Herbert and Gertrude. 
Gardner graduated at Bowdoin, class of 1909. 

These notes give but a meagre account of Mr. 
Heath's life and activities. A fuller record is to be 
found in a very fitting memorial volume with por- 
trait; edited and arranged by Gertrude E. Heath 
and issued in 1916. This volume contains a brief 
sketch of his life; some of his greater and more im- 
portant addresses; "Nuggets and Epigrams" from 
his pen; and "Tributes from the Kennebec Bar." 
The closing words of this volume, by Chief Justice 
Whitehouse, are : "His beneficent life is his memorial. 
It speaks with more impressive emphasis than the 
most eloquent voice of eulogy, and enrolls his name 
on that shining list in the galoxy of the great lawyers 
and great men of Maine." 

See also Bowdoin College Bulletin, obituary 
Number 1913; Herndon, Men of Progress Boston, 
1897, pp. 19-20, with portrait; and Report of Maine 
State Bar Association, vol. 18, pp. 11 8- 119. 



Class of 1872 51 

HINKS 

John Lewis Rich Hinks was born in Brewer, 
Maine, April 26th, 1849, son of one Sylvester Hinks 
(or Hincks) a resident of Brewer, but who was con- 
nected with the railroad service in the station at 
Bangor. He graduated at the Bangor High School 
and came to Bowdoin college, where he gave much 
promise during the time of his brief stay in college. 
He was especially interested and active in the " 72 
Debating Club' during Freshman year. But failing 
health compelled him to abandon a college course. 
His mind became affected and unbalanced, from 
which he never recovered. He died at Augusta, 
Maine, May 5, 1886, My informant supposes "he 
never married, though his brother and two sisters 
married into some of best known families in Bangor." 



52 Bowdoin College 



HOOKER 

Walton Olney Hooker was born in Gardi- 
ner, Maine, April 17, 1849. He was educated and 
fitted for college in the schools of his native city, 
with Heath and Lewis as classmates. During his 
college course he was highly esteemed and much 
beloved for the personal qualities of character which 
were his, and before graduating was admitted to the 
Phi Beta Kappa Society, Alpha of Maine. Im- 
mediately upon his graduating he went to sea, en- 
listing as a common seaman, but rapidly rose to be 
the master of a ship sailing to foreign ports. In 
that capacity he died of small pox in Rio de Janeiro, 
August 14, 1878. The following fitting tributes to 
his memory appeared in the local papers of his home 
city: 

From Gardiner Home Journal, August 21, 1878. 

"On Monday the telegraph brought the news of 
the death of Capt. Walton C. Hooker, of this city, 
master of the ship Harry Morse, Rio Janeiro, of 
small pox. The deceased was the son of W. Olney 
Hooker of this city, and was as fine a young man 
as ever trod a deck. He was a graduate of our 
High Schools, in the class with the junior member 
of this firm, and after graduating with highest honors 
at Bowdoin College, he took to the sea; and at his 
death, at the early age of 28 years, he had been 
master for three or four years. For a poor boy, 



Class of 1872 53 

without wealthy friends or influence to help him, to 
be so soon promoted is the highest proof of the 
worth of the man. He was a noble, whole-hearted, 
generous young man, and all who knew him will 
mingle their tears with those of his afflicted parents. 
His life, short as it was, has not been unfruitfull of 
blessing, for the memory of his noble character 
will be a perpetual feast to his friends, and his example 
a constant incentive to every striving young man." 

From The Kennebec Reporter, Saturday, August 24, 
1878. 

"The telegraph and mail Monday brought the 
sad news to this city of the death of Capt. Walton 
O. Hooker, son of W. Olney Hooker, and a native 
resident of this city. He died atRiode Janeiro, Brazil, 
of small pox after a brief illness. Capt. Hooker 
was a graduate of the High School in this city, and 
of Bowdoin College in the class of '72. He was a 
young man of fine scholarship, unblemished character, 
and excellent abilities. Soon after leaving college 
he entered upon a sea-faring life where he won the 
confidence of his officers and owners and by promo- 
tion reached the position of chief officer of a fine 
ship, the 'Harry Morse,' owned principally by 
the Hough tons of Bath, which he commanded at 
the time of his death. He was about twenty-seven 
years of age, much respected and beloved by all 
his friends and associates." 



54 Bowdoin College 



IRELAND 

Franklin Pierce Ireland was born Decem- 
ber 6, 1851, in Newburyport, Massachusetts and 
received his preparatory education in that city. 
He was with the class of '72 in Bowdoin the first 
two years of its course, but retiring in 1870 he went 
to the Law School of Boston University. Graduating 
from the Law School he went in 1874 to Nebraska 
City, Nebraska and began the practice of law. 

In 1876 he was a candidate for District Attorney 
but was defeated by a few votes. In 1878 he married 
Miss Eloise Coe and they had one daughter, Mrs. 
WiUiam Hay ward. 

In 1884 he was offered and declined nomination 
for Governor of his state. He was a Democrat in 
politics, and in 1880-84 he was chairman of the 
state Democratic conventions and "filled the position 
with ability." In 1890-92 he served one term as 
Mayor of Nebraska City and was for some time a 
member of the Board of Education, taking a great 
interest in school matters. He built up a very 
successful law practice, counting among his clients 
several large corporations. 

He died the 14th of January 1902. Concerning his 
sudden and tragic death the Nebraska City News 
of that date contained the following: 



Class 0/1872 55 



"Frank Pierce Ireland is dead. Genial, whole- 
hearted, companionable Frank is no more — his 
death a severe shock to the community. Yesterday 
in the full bloom of health, planning and striving 
for the future, this afternoon he lies cold in the 
embrace of death. Last evening he was about the 
city as usual, met and conversed with friends, went 
to his home and retired as was his custom. This 
morning about 5 o'clock he was found lying upon 
the terrace of his residence, clad in his night clothes, 
unconscious — having fallen, as is supposed, from 
his chamber window. Medical assistance was sum- 
moned at once, he was carried into the house and 
all was done for him that could be done. He partially 
regained consciousness, but not sufficient to explain 
how the accident occurred; began to sink after 10 
o'clock and at one o'clock quietly passed away. 
His death was from paralysis caused by the dis- 
location of the spinal column. 

"Frank was one of the most genial gentlemen that 
ever made this city his home. No more accom- 
plished man ever lived in the state. Under all 
circumstances he was the same genial, urbane gentle- 
man. During President Cleveland's first term he 
was called to Washington and was ofifered the posi- 
tion of assistant secretary of the Treasury, but he 
declined. It was then that Mrs. Cleveland called 
him 'the Chesterfield of Nebraska.* 

"Frank was a friend to all and everybody was a 



56 Bowdoin College 



friend to him. He was charitable, as can be proven 
by hundreds whom he assisted; he was genial as all 
know; he was particularly kind to those in distress; 
and no man in this city has more friends among all 
classes then had Mr. Ireland. Many will be the 
tears shed over his untimely demise." 



Class of 1872 57 

LAMBERT 

Alonzo Stockbridge Lambert, son of Joshua 
and Susan (Garcelon) Lambert, was born at 
Durham, Maine, February 4, 1850. He entered 
Bowdoin in 1867 with the class of '71. He appeared 
in the class of '72 in its sophomore year and left it 
again the next year, going to Amherst College where 
he graduated in 1872. 

After graduating he was a farmer at Durham, 
his native town, and afterward removed to Somonauk, 
Illinois where he was residing 1878. Since that 
time we have no information concerning him. His 
brother residing in Auburn, Maine could not inform 
us as to his whereabouts so late as October 1915. 

He was reported as once married. 



58 Bowdoin College 



LEWIS 

Weston Lewis was another of that famous 
trio — Heath, Hooker and Lewis — coming to Bowdoin 
from Gardiner High School in 1868. He was born in 
Pittston, Maine, opposite Gardiner, December 26, 
1850, a choice Christmas present to this nether world. 
When prepared for the High School he entered that 
in Gardiner and fitted for college in the Gardiner 
High School. 

Upon graduating from Bowdoin in 1872, it speaks 
well for Lewis that he was elected principal of the 
Gardiner High School where he had so recently 
attended as a student, showing that the idea that a 
man is without honor in his own city, is not always 
true. Teaching this school for three years, he was 
again honored by being elected treasurer of the 
Gardiner Savings Bank; and has been engaged in 
the banking business in Gardiner all his life with 
marked success. He has also been prominent in 
railroad corporations, water companies and other 
business enterprises. He is a director of the Maine 
Central Railroad and of several other railroads. In 
politics he has been a Democrat, but has held few 
political offices. 

He was made an Overseer of his college in 1901, 
serving till 191 1, when he was elected to the Board 
of Trustees. 



Class of 1872 59 

Lewis married Miss Eleanor W. Partridge in 
October 1876. They have three children one of whom 
Henry, graduated from Bowdoin in 1905 and is 
following in the footsteps of his father as a success- 
ful banker. 



6o Bowdoin College 



LORD 

Edwin Howard Lord passed his college 
course with the class of 1871 and is registered with 
that class in the Bowdoin Catalogue, but the former 
chronicler whose notes I am using, says that on 
account of ill health Mr. Lord dropped back to the 
class of 1872 with which he graduated. 

He was a native of Springvale, Maine, born June i, 
1850. Besides his degree of A. B. from Bowdoin, 
he received also an A. M. in 1875, and the same 
from Harvard in 1881. 

His whole life was devoted to teaching of which 
he made a marked success. He was principal of the 
High School in Richmond, Maine, 1871-73, and 
taught in Lowell, Massachusetts, 1873-80. Then he 
became principal of the High School at Lawrence, 
Massachusetts, where he served four years. After 
that he became an electrician and followed that 
vocation till 1887. Upon the founding and opening 
of the Brewster Free Academy at Wolboro, New 
Hampshire, in 1887, he became its principal and 
continued with it until his death in Portland, Maine, 
January 24, 1907. 

He was survived by one son, W. S. Lord of Ports- 
mouth, New Hampshire. 



Class of 1872 61 



MEADS 



Simeon Pease Meads was born in Liming- 
ton, Maine, January 11, 1849, coming to Bowdoin 
from that town. After graduating he taught a 
year as principal of the Brunswick High School; 
married Miss Nettie E. Manson of Limington, 
August I, 1873; taught 1873-74 the Academy at 
Limerick, Maine; and entered fall of 1874, the Cobb 
Divinity School then connected with Bates College, 
Lewiston, supplying the Corliss Street Free Baptist 
Church of Bath. His health failing, he moved, in 
the spring of 1876, to San Jose, California. There 
he tried unsuccessfully to get a job at driving a street 
car, so as to be out of doors as much as possible for 
the sake of his lungs which were very weak. In 
November he moved to Oakland, California. Failing 
to get a position in a real estate office, he opened an 
office of his own by renting a window space at $20 
a month, hiring a boy at $5 and himself keeping out 
of doors all the day. There he gained thirty pounds 
in weight in eight months. 

In the spring of 1877, being much improved phy- 
sically, he sold his business, took a teacher's examina- 
tion and got a position at $100 per month. This 
enabled him to bring his wife and family to California, 
which he did in the early fall. 

In 1879 he was elected to the Oakland High School 
and was at the head of the science department 



62 Bowdoin College 



nearly twenty-two years, latter part of the time 
as vice-principal of the school. During this period 
he published, in 1884 his Elements of Chemistry, 
and in 1888, a book on Elementary Physics, the former 
having run through six editions and the latter four, 
in 1907, when the author was considering another 
revision of them. 

After the Republican party of California sent a 
whiskey dealer to the U. S. Senate, in 1885, Prof. 
Meads became an active member of the Prohibition 
party. He wrote largely for papers and magazines, 
and for two years he edited the Pacific Prohibi- 
tionist. He was the prohibition candidate for Lieu- 
tenant Governor in 1902, and for State Superinten- 
dent of Schools in 1906. 

In 1901 he resigned his position in the high school 
and again opened a real estate office. In 1904 the 
Board of Education of Oakland offered him the 
principalship of the Cole Elementary School, gram- 
mar grade, but at a salary larger than his former 
high school salary. This he accepted, keeping a 
slight interest in his real estate office and working 
there in vacation. In 1910 he ran on the Prohibition 
ticket as candidate for Governor of California. A 
letter from him dated March 2, 191 8 says he is 
chairman of the Northern California Prohibition 
Committee and a member of the Northern Cali- 
fornia, Non-Partisan Ratification Committee in 
charge of the election of a dry legislature this fall. 



Class of 1872 63 

He has stumped the state twice, in 1914 and 1916, 
for a dry CaHfornia, and expects to go over the state 
again this coming fall in a fight for ratification of 
the federal amendment. 

He is chairman of the Board of Deacons of the 
First Baptist Church of Oakland, a church of 850 
members, and has a young married peoples Bible 
class of 60 members in the Sunday school. 

He edits the Prohibition Monthly for Northern 
California (called Backbone) which circulates over 
the northern part of the state. 

On March 13, 1890 Mrs, Nettie (Manson) Meads, 
after an illness of three and one-half years, passed 
away, leaving five children, the youngest not quite 
three years old. On May 23, 1891, Mr. Meads 
married Miss Louise Russell of Albany, New York, 
who proved a faithful helpmate in looking after the 
welfare of the children. One daughter died while 
in the 8th grade in school, nearly ready for the 
High School. He has now four children and five 
grand children. 

One son. Dr. H. M. Meads, is in the U. S. service 
with the rank of Captain. He has charge of one of 
the base hospitals "somewhere in France," but where 
the father does not know. 

Mr. Meads' present residence is at No. 534 Mer- 
rimac Street, Oakland, California. 



64 Bowdoifi College 



McCLINTOCK 

Of James Young McClintock we can only 
repeat what the catalogue of Bowdoin College says 
of him; "Born in Hallowell, Maine, April 21, 
1853. Bowdoin 1868-69; Civil Engineer, Boston and 
Maine R. R. 1872-80; New York City 1880-82; 
Business Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1884-88; Roches- 
ter, New York 1888-98; Civil Engineer, Rochester 
1898- ." McClintock was with the class of '72 
but a short time. Why and whither he went the 
writer does not know, but probably to study else- 
where, as the next account of him is in the year 
of our graduation, 1872, when he appears as a civil 
engineer upon the railroad. 



Class of 1872 65 

McDowell 

William Augustus McDowell was born 
February 25, 1848, in Washington, Maine. He 
fitted for college at Lincoln Academy, Newcastle, 
Maine in the class with Seiders, Coggan and Richards. 
Was at Bowdoin but two years, dying of typhoid fever 
at Brunswick, July 13, 1870, where all deeply mourned 
his loss. His classmates and acquaintances knew him 
as a thoroughly conscientious, upright and promising 
young man. He was of fine mind, of excellent habits, 
faithful in every duty, studious, earnest, a confessed 
follower of the Man of Gallilee and daily lived up 
to his profession. 



66 Bowdoin College 



MITCHELL 

Frank Albert Mitchell was born August 
19, 1847, one authority says in Kennebunk, Maine, 
and another in Kennebunkport. Coming to Bowdoin, 
he hailed from the town of Phillips, Maine. He 
was with the class of '72 until 1871, leaving late in 
Junior year. He then spent a year with his uncle, 
F. D. Mithchell, in Jacksonville, Florida. He then 
entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New 
York and received the degree of M. D. in 1874. 
He then practiced medicine at North Fryeburg, 
Maine till 1881; attended a special course of lectures 
in New York until spring of 1882, when he came to 
Bridgton, Maine, where he had an extensive practice 
during the rest of his active life. He was taken 
suddenly ill in May 1897 and died in February 1898. 

Mitchell married Miss Abbie Dresser of Lowell, 
Maine, who with an only son, Everett Totman 
Mitchell, still survive him and are living in Los 
Angeles, California. Dr. Mitchell came to Bridgton 
a stranger while the writer was living in the adjoining 
town of Waterford, and because of his professional 
skill and genial personality, soon gained an extensive 
business practice and made many firm friends in 
Bridgton and adjoining towns. 

A good sketch of the life and work of Dr. Mitchell 
may be found in the "Biographical Review of Cumber- 
land County" published in 1896, page 46. 



Class of 1872 67 

PAYNE 

Charles Henry Payne is another name reg- 
istered as entering Bowdoin with the class of '72 
but who, we believe, never appeared with the class 
in the classroom, probably took the entrance examina- 
tion but never entered upon the course of study. He 
hailed from Newburyport, Massachusetts. Further 
than that this deponent saith not because of a want 
of knowledge of the man. 



68 Bowdoin College 



RICHARDS 

Jehiel Simmons Richards, Jr., son of J. S. 
and Leonora (Coggan) Richards, was born in 
Bristol, Maine, August i, 1847. His early training 
was in the district school and upon the farm. He 
took his college preparatory course at Lincoln Acad- 
emy in Newcastle, Maine, attending six terms — fall 
and spring and studying some outside. During 
sdmmer he worked upon the farm and winters he 
taught school to pay expenses, teaching at Gushing, 
No. Waldoboro, Pemaquid and the village school 
in Newcastle. He was an assistant also at Lincoln 
Academy. During his college course also, he taught 
four terms of school, at Round Pond, Southport, 
Brunswick and Monmouth Academy, which took him 
out of college somewhat. He was, however, grad- 
uated with his class, took rank among the first 
five members and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa 
Society. 

Before his graduation he was engaged to teach 
at Calais, Maine, as Principal of the Calais Academy 
and City High School combined. Here he taught 
two years; entered Bangor Theological Seminary 
in the fall of 1874 and graduated in 1877, numbering 
among his classmates and friends. Prof. Clarence A. 
Beckwith, D. D. of Chicago Theological Seminary 
and George A. Gordon, D. D. of Old South Church, 
Boston. 



Class of 1872 69 



Richards preached as a "student supply," in 
Bremen, Maine, then his home town summer of 
1875, and at Dexter, Maine, from February 1876 
to June 1877 when he was called to the pastorate of 
the church (Congregational Church of Dexter) and 
was ordained its pastor June 22, 1877. He has 
served in these seven Congregational pastorates 
all in Maine: Dexter, 1876-80; Waterford and No. 
Waterford, united 1880-83, and at Waterford alone 
till 1886; Alfred 1886-90; Deer Isle First Church, 
1890-97; W. Brooksville 1897-1901; North Yarmouth 
1901-07 ; and Litchfield 1907-12. All these pastorates 
succeeded immediately one upon another, excepting 
the last previous to which Mr. Richards was laid 
aside several months by a serious illness. 

In all but one of his pastorates Richards was sought 
to serve in the conduct of the schools. He was 
Superintendent of Schools at Dexter and Waterford, 
was upon the school board at Alfred, Superintendent 
at North Yarmouth, resigning that office the second 
year. In politics he has been an independent re- 
publican, and a Master Mason since August 1891. 

Richards married July 8, 1874, Miss Hattie Otis 
Barker of Brunswick. To them were born two 
children, Raymond C. and Annie G. The son 
died at Deer Isle, in his sixteenth year and nearly 
ready to enter college. The daughter graduated 
from the Eastern State Normal School, from North 
Yarmouth Academy and from Bates College, class 



70 Bowdoin College 



1906, and has followed her profession as teacher to 
this time. 

Upon retiring from his last pastorate Mr. Richards 
with his family, went to North Yarmouth and settled 
among his former people. Here he owns a humble 
home and devotes his time to gardening, orcharding, 
eggs and poultry raising, supplying vacant pulpits 
occasionally, attending funerals and sometimes wed- 
dings in the absence of the pastor, and serving his 
community as a Justice of the Peace. 

His post office address is Route i. Box 77, Walnut 
Hill, Maine. 



Class of 1872 7 1 

RICKER 

Freeman Alonzo Ricker came into the 
class from 1871. He was born at Ossipee, New 
Hampshire, October 13, 1849, but hailed from Port- 
land, Maine when entering college. Upon graduat- 
ing he married, 1872, Virginia Houghton of Bath, 
Maine and went into mercantile business in Portland. 
His health failing he went into the Adirondacks, 
hoping to secure relief from that terrible disease, 
tuberculosis, which had fastened upon him: But 
in vain. He died the last day of 1877. 
The Sunday Times of January 6, 1878 published the 

following : 

"Monday last. Freeman A. Ricker, only son of 
J. S. Ricker, Esq., died at Martin's Hotel, Serena 
Lake, Adirondacks, of consumption. 

The funeral took place Friday afternoon from the 
residence of his father. Large numbers of his friends 
came in the furious storm to pay a final tribute to 
his memory. The employees of the tannery attended 
in a body. The floral tributes were many and beauti- 
ful. The services were conducted by Rev. W. H. 
Fenn of High Street Church, assisted by Rev. J. R. 
Day of the Chestnut Street Church. The pall- 
bearers were Edward C. Jordan, Horace M. Jordan, 
Edward Cayle, Edward Payson, W. G. Fossett, A. L. 
Crocker, G. H. Cummings, Frank S. Waterhouse. 
Beloved by all who knew him, his death is much 
lamented; and is indeed bitter and crushing to his 
parents, sisters and young wife." 



72 Bowdoin College 



ROGERS 

Osgood Wyman Rogers was the oldest man 
of the class of '72, born February 8, 1840, at Wind- 
ham, Maine. His early life was passed upon his 
father's farm, with slight interruptions; until Decem- 
ber 1859, when he went into a blacksmith's shop 
to learn that trade. Here he worked till April 1861, 
when he enlisted and entered the Civil War, in the 
5th Regt. Me. Vols. He participated in eight battles 
besides numerous skirmishes, was slightly wounded 
and captured at Salem Chufch, May 3, 1863, was a 
prisoner twenty-one days on Belle Isle, Richmond, 
Virginia, then paroled and taken to Parole Camp, 
near Annapolis, Maryland. In September 1863, he 
was detailed by the War Department to serve as 
Clerk of the 3d Battalion of paroled prisoners, and 
this position he held until his discharge from the 
U. S. service, at Portland, Maine, July 1864. 

His war experience changed his views of life and 
his estimate of the value of an education, so that in 
the fall of 1864, he entered the Normal School at 
Farmington, Maine. Deciding to prepare for col- 
lege, he entered the next spring, the North Bridgton 
Academy, and completed his preparation at Bridg- 
ton, Fryeburg and Norway Academies. Upon grad- 
uating, he married August i, 1872, Miss M. Augusta 
Evans, and with her, the following September took 
charge of Blue Hill Academy. The next spring, 



Class of 1872 73 

1873, they entered upon the same service at Hampden 
Academy, Hampden, Maine. He became a student 
at Bangor Theological Seminary in the spring of 

1874, and graduated June 1876, supplying during his 
last year in the Seminary, the Congregational Church 
at Frankfort, Maine. Upon his graduation he 
accepted a call to the Old South Church, Farmington, 
Maine, where he was ordained and ministered till the 
fall of 1879, when he was called to the First Con- 
gragational Church, Bridgton, Maine and served 
till 1883 and was then called to the First Congre- 
gational Church of Mount Pleasant, Iowa. He 
remained with the church at Mt. Pleasant from 
February 1883 till May 1900. In that year he 
began ministry at Medford, Oklahoma. 

In 1902 he took up a homestead farm in Ellis 
County, supplied the pulpit at Gage, Oklahoma 
till 1906, then became its pastor until the winter 
of 191 1, when he removed to Medford and bought 
a house intending to retire. 

The Boston Congregationalist, in noting this re- 
tirement said: "In the resignation of Rev. O. W. 
Rogers of Gage, Oklahoma, the State has lost one 
of her veterans from the list of pastors, now a veteran 
of seventy-two years. He and his noble wife are mak- 
ing their permanent home in Medford, where they 
have received a royal welcome from their former 
parishioners." 

Rogers has three children and several grand- 



74 Bowdoin College 



children. His eldest, a son, William O., is pastor of 
a Congregational church in Terre Haute, Indiana; 
one daughter, Mrs. Ratcliffe, lives in Massachusetts; 
and the younger daughter is a senior in Kingfisher 
College, Oklahoma. 



Class of 1872 75 



SAMPSON 



Cassander Gary Sampson, though graduating 
with the class of '73, was a member of '72 
the first three years of its course where he made so 
many firm friends that he is still glad to count him- 
self one of us. He was born, September 2, 1850, 
at Harrison, Maine; attended the schools of his 
native village and fitted for college at North Bridg- 
ton Academy in the adjoining town. Entering Bow- 
doin in 1868, he was obliged to fall back because 
of weak eyes, and graduated in 1873. In 1874 and 
'75 he was assistant to classmate Coggan at Nichols 
Academy, in Dudley, Massachusetts. In Septem- 
ber 1875 he entered Andover Theological Seminary 
and graduated in 1878. At that time the seminary 
did not confer degrees; but later, in 1899, it conferred 
upon Sampson the degree of S. T. B. He preached 
at Gilmanton Iron Works, New Hampshire in 1878 
and 1879, at Pembroke, New Hampshire, 1879-85, 
where he was ordained in 1881; and in 1885 accepted 
a call to Tilton, New Hampshire, where he is still 
the much beloved and honored pastor. He is at the 
present time a director of the New Hampshire Bible 
Society, a trustee of the New Hampshire Congre- 
gational Ministers' and Widows' Fund, a trustee 
of the Gen. Gonf. of Gongregational Ghurches of 
New Hampshire and of the New Hampshire Home 



76 Bowdoin College 



Missionary Society. He has been Moderator of 
the General Conference. 

He has never married. In a late letter he speaks 
of growing old; but that he urges his people to press 
on, "never say die," and tries to take cheerfully the 
medicine he prescribes for others. 



Class of 1872 77 

SEIDERS 

George Melville Seiders was born in Union, 
Maine, January 15, 1844, eighth child and 
fifth son of Henry and Mary E. (Starrett) Seiders. 
His early education was obtained in the public schools 
of his native town, and while a student in the High 
School he enlisted, September 10, 1862, in Co. B, 
24th Me. Volunteer Infantry and was made a cor- 
poral. He was mustered out of service with his 
regiment, at Augusta, August 25, 1863. Returning 
to Union, he was upon the home farm a year or 
more, then obtained employment in the machine 
shops of Charles Staples & Son for some months. 
In 1866 he left the work bench to enter Kent's Hill 
Seminary, attended there two terms, then com- 
pleted his college preparatory course at Lincoln 
Academy, Newcastle, Maine. 

Upon graduating in 1872, Mr. Seiders was appoint- 
ed principal of Greeley Institute at Cumberland 
Center, Maine, and held the position two years. 
The year 1874-75, he was submaster in the High 
School at Waltham, Massachusetts and the following 
year, 1875-76 he held a professorship in the Episcopal 
Academy of Connecticut, at Cheshire, Connecticut. 
Here he took up the study of law and returning to 
Portland, July 1876, entered the office of Hon. Thomas 
B. Reed where he continued to read law and was 
admitted to the bar in October 1878. He was 



78 Bowdoin College 



then in the office of Hon. F. M. Ray for a few months; 
but at the request of Mr. Reed, returned to his 
office and remained with him until he resigned his 
seat in Congress and went to New York in 1901. 
In 1893 Mr. Seiders formed a partnership with 
F. V. Chase, Esq. of Portland, which continued 
several years. 

Mr. Seiders was much in public service. In 1883 
he was appointed Assistant United States Counsel 
in the Alabama Court of Claims and continued under 
this appointment until the court was discontinued. 
In the fall of 1877, living then at North Yarmouth, 
he was elected representative to the Legislature from 
the class of North Yarmouth and Yarmouth, on 
the Republican ticket; and when the Legislature 
assembled, he was appointed on the judiciary 
committee, although not yet admitted to the Bar. 
He moved to Portland in 1880. In 1884 he was 
elected county attorney for Cumberland County, 
and re-elected for a second term in 1886. In 1892 
he was elected to the State Senate and re-elected 
in 1894 to serve a second term, then he was made 
president of the senate. He was a member of the 
Republican State Committee from 1899 to January 
1905. In 1 90 1 he was elected Attorney General of 
the State, and served two full terms in that office, 
being re-elected in 1903. 

Mr. Seiders was a strong admirer of Theodore 
Roosevelt, and feeling that Mr. Roosevelt should 



Class of 1872 79 

be re-elected to the Presidency, he became a Pro- 
gressive and was very active in that organization 
in 1912, being chairman of the State Committee. 
Early in 1913, however, he resigned from that posi- 
tion. 

Mr. Seiders married November 24, 1872, Miss 
Clarice S. Hayes of North Yarmouth. They had 
three children — Grace R., Mary A. and Phillip Reed 
Seiders. The son died in 1908. The older daughter 
married Dr. Phillip W. Davis (Bowdoin 1897) now a 
surgeon in the U. S. service, while she and five children 
reside in Portland. The younger daughter lives with 
her mother at 45 Thomas Street, Portland, where 
the husband and father left them May 26, 1915. 

Mr. Seiders was an active member of the Maine 
Historical Society and of the Maine Geneological 
Society, a member of the Bramhall League, the 
Cumberland Club and Bosworth Post, G. A. R. 
From his youth he was a member of the Congrega- 
tional church. 

The Portland Evening Express, soon after the 
death of Mr. Seiders published what may be regarded 
a fair record of the life and activities of our dis- 
tinguished and lamented classmate. Later there 
appeared also a very fitting poetic tribute to his 
memory, consisting of seven eight-line stanzas, of 
which the last stanza reads thus: — 



8o Bowdoin College 



"Farmer, Statesman, Lawyer, Scholar, 
Friend of great and friend of small, 
Leader, Helper, Guide, or Father, 
Husband, Brother, — true in all. 
List! there rings a sweet sung tribute 
To the working of God's plan, — 
'In your hands I left a marble. 
You have brought me back a man.' " 



Class of 1872 81 

SHANNON 

William Cummings Shannon, the eldest of 
four sons of Dr. Nathanial Shannon of Portland, 
Maine, was born at London, New Hampshire, May 8, 
1 85 1. He came to Bowdoin from Cape Elizabeth, 
Maine, having fitted for college at Westbrook Semi- 
nary. Graduating in 1872, he took up the study of 
medicine at the Bowdoin Medical School, Brunswick 
and in Portland, and graduating as M. D. from the 
Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York 
City, in 1874. He remained at the hospital a year 
and in 1875 entered the United States army as 
Asst. Surgeon, and in 1895, was made Surgeon with 
the rank of Major. He served at many army posts 
and retired in 1898 on account of physical disability. 
For several years, he was in continually failing health, 
living during the summer at Elkhorn, Nebraska, 
and during winter at Hot Springs, Arkansas. He 
died April 21, 1905. 

Shannon married Miss Ellen Poppleton, a graduate, 
and later a trustee of Vassar College, daughter of 
the late Judge Poppleton of New York City and 
Omaha, Nebraska. 

Aside from his success in his profession, Shannon 
possessed a studious mind, improving the oppor- 
tunities afforded at the army posts for reading and 
general culture. He spent two years, 1891-93 in 
Central America where he made a valuable collec- 
tion of one thousand rare plants. 



82 Bowdoin College 



SPAULDING 

Frank Wood Spaulding, son of Dr. Zachariah 
and Mrs. Asenath (Wood) Spaulding, was born in 
Bingham, Maine, April 29th, 1844. 

His early youth was spent in attending such 
schools as the town afforded and in assisting in 
farm work. He fitted for college at Kent's Hill, 
Maine, graduating in 1869 and entering the class of 
1872 Bowdoin as a Sophomore the following autumn. 
While taking this course of study, he taught school 
during several winter seasons. 

He began the study of medicine immediately after 
graduation from college in 1872. He studied with 
his brother, a practicing physician in Bingham, and 
also in the Medical Department of the University 
of New York City from which he graduated in 
1875 as valedictorian of his class. After this he 
spent several months of service in different hospitals. 

He considers it one of the greatest honors of his 
life that he received a congratulatory letter, soon 
after graduating, containing an invitation to return 
to his native town and engage in the practice of 
medicine. This letter was in the form of a petition, 
signed by many of the leading citizens of the village 
and vicinity. For various reasons, however, he de- 
cided to remain in Bingham only a few months, 
while settling the affairs of his brother who had 
practiced there for several years but who, on account 



Class of 1872 83 



of failing health, had been obliged to seek an easier 
field of service, where he died soon after. 

In 1876, our classmate went to Brattleboro, Ver- 
mont where he was employed as assistant physician 
in the Insane Asylum for one year. He then went 
to Epping, New Hampshire where he engaged in 
general practice for sixteen years, during fifteen of 
which he was associate physician at the Rockingham 
County Almshouse and Insane Asylum. 

On October 20th, 1880, he married Abbey Thayer, 
daughter of Rev. J. H. Stearnes of Epping. He 
served the Congregational church as one of its deacons 
and Superintendent of Sunday School. He was 
also for several years upon the Superintending School 
Committee of the Town. 

Owing to a very serious illness in 1892, he was 
obliged to relinquish general practice whereupon he 
received an appointment on the Medical Staff of 
the Sanitarium at Clifton Springs, New York. He 
left Epping with many regrets as the severing of 
ties of several years duration, between physician 
and patients, was a trying experience. He has 
been a member of the Sanitarium Stafif for nearly 
twenty-five years and for several of these years he 
was Medical Director Dean of the Staff. 

In 1902, through the generosity of a former patient, 
he and his wife were invited to accompany her on a 
visit to Palestine and parts of Egypt and Europe. 
They were gone three months, and the trip was 
greatly enjoyed by all. 



84 Bowdoin College 



October 20th, 1905, occurred their twenty-fifth 
wedding anniversary which event was celebrated 
appropriately at the Sanitarium. The most unique 
of the gifts received was a small heart of granite 
from New Hampshire (where they were married 
and lived happily for several years) embedded in a 
block of pine from Maine, their native State. 

After a service of twenty years at Clifton Springs, 
Dr. Spaulding was granted a leave of absence for 
six months, the most of which time was spent by him 
and Mrs. Spaulding on the Pacific Coast having 
Los Angeles for headquarters but, on the return 
trip, going as far North as Portland, Oregon. One 
of the most interesting places visited during this 
journey was the Grand Canon of Arizona, a rare 
enjoyment not to be forgotten. 

During his term of service in the Sanitarium, Dr. 
Spaulding has more than once taken a few weeks 
of post graduate study in medical schools and hospitals 
of New York City. He has found medical work in 
an institution less subject to exposure than country 
practice, consequently his health has been well 
maintained to the present time. 

During this quarter of a century, he has been sur- 
rounded by a delightful environment and helpful 
and agreeable associates, in ministering to an in- 
telligent and appreciative class of patients, all of 
which has caused him great reason for gratitude to 
God for His favor and loving kindness. 



Class of 1872 85 

STONE 

George Webber Stone was born January 7, 
1849, in town of Jay, Maine, where upon a farm he 
spent the most of his active Hfe, his post office 
address being Livermore Falls. He died October 2, 
1910, being killed instantly by a falling tree. He 
studied in the common schools of his town and 
fitted for college at Kent's Hill Seminary. His first 
college year was passed at Wesleyan University, 
Middletown, Connecticut, he entering Bowdoin and 
the class of 1872 at the opening of Sophomore year. 
Upon graduating he returned to the home farm in 
Jay, to care for his aged parents, where he passed 
the rest of his life. He received his A. M. in course 
1875. He never married. 

Mr. Stone was prominent in town and county 
affairs. He was Supervisor of schools in Jay for a 
number of years, and on the school board for some 
years. Served also as selectman for a term of years. 
In politics he was a Republican and one of the leaders 
of the party in town and county; was sent by his 
district as representative to the Maine legislature, 
1883-84, and as senator from Franklin County, 
1895-96. He served upon many important com- 
mittees in state, county and town. 

In religion Stone was a member of the Methodist 
church, where he held the offices of trustee and 
steward. 



86 Bowdoin College 



As an agriculturist he was progressive and 
successful. 

From these notes upon the life of our classmate, we 
are indebted to Mr. F. P. Stone of Norway, brother 
of Geo. W. and administrator of his estate. 



Class of 1872 87 

TOTMAN 

Everett Totman was born September 5, 
1850, at Fairfield, Maine and entered Bowdoin 
in 1868. In Junior year he left the class and went 
to Dartmouth College, where he graduated in 1872. 
Upon graduation he went into business and for 
fifteen years was a member of the firm of Allen & 
Totman, Hardware, at Fairfield, his home town. 
He removed to Minnesota, was in the livery business 
with his brother at Duluth, from 1890 to 1897, as 
Totman Brothers; returned to Maine, and in 1900 
located at Waltham, Massachusetts in the hard- 
ware business as E. Totman & Co. He left Waltham 
in December 1908, lived in Concord, Massachusetts 
three years and removed to Needham, Massachusetts 
in 191 1. In 1914 he was appointed Town Ac- 
countant of Needham for three years and reappointed 
in 1917 for another term of three years, and "Hope 
to have a few more reappointments," he writes 
under date of January 28, 191 8. He has pleasant 
work, is on duty six hours a day, excepting Saturday 
afternoons and holidays, "with no domineering boss 
to criticise." 

Totman married December 19, 1875, Miss Ella U. 
Brown, who died July 28, 1882. He married again 
November 30, 1905, Lillian F. Hatch of Concord, 
Massachusetts, who still graces his home at Need- 
ham and whom it was the privilege of the class of '72 



88 Bowdoin College 



to meet at its 35th anniversary reunion, Columbia 
Hotel, Portland, Maine. He has no children. 

He frequently comes to Peaks Island, Maine to 
visit a brother who has a cottage there and says 
in his recent letter: "We shall meet again probably 
at our fiftieth anniversary in Brunswick. I am 
very much alive." 



Class of 1872 89 

WHITAKER 

George Mason Whitaker was born July 30, 
185 1 in Southbridge, Massachusetts and fitted for 
college at Nichols Academy, Dudley, Massachusetts. 
On graduating from Bowdoin, he entered at once 
into newspaper work and was editor and publisher 
of the Southbridge Journal until 1886. He had 
already had experience in that line, having been 
one of the founders of the Bowdoin Orient and a 
frequent contributor to other periodicals. He said 
however of himself during those years of his publish- 
ing the Southbridge Journal, that he "played the 
role of a prophet in his own country, at times to 
his disadvantage from the stand point of popularity." 
Yet he made a living, gave his paper a high stand- 
ing in the state, was several times elected to the 
board of School Committee and of library com- 
mittee, and became secretary of the Massachusetts 
Press Association. He was a Sunday School Su- 
perintendent for seven years, and a trustee of the 
local agricultural society. 

In January, 1886, he removed to Boston to edit 
and publish the New England Farmer, residing at 
Winthrop, Massachusetts, giving this oldest agricul- 
ture paper in the country new life, popularity and 
influence. Besides his degree of A. B. from Bowdoin 
in 1872, he received that of A. M. in course from 
his Alma Mater in 1875 and in 1905 the degree of 



90 Bowdoin College 



Sc.D. from Lincoln Memorial University. In August 
1872 he married Alice E. Weld of Southbridge, Massa- 
chusetts and had two daughters, Lillian and Ethel 
of whom the latter died in 1901. 

While at Boston, Mr. Whitaker received numerous 
honors in various directions. Having given much 
attention to dairy interests, he was appointed in 
1891, by Governor Russell, to the position of execu- 
tive officer of the State Dairy Bureau created that 
year, and filled the office with marked efficiency 
until 1903, when he entered the service of the U. S. 
Department of Agriculture and removed to Washing- 
ton, D. C. Promotions followed until he became 
the chief of the Market Milk Section in the Dairy 
Division of the Department of Agriculture. In 
December 191 1, he resigned to become secretary 
of the newly organized National Dairy Union. 
Later in the same year he accepted the position of 
managing editor of Hoard's Dairyman and a few 
weeks after, died suddenly at Fort Atkinson, Wis- 
consin of acute dilation of the heart, 29th August 
1912. 

An editorial in Hoard's Dairyman of September 13, 
1912, accompanied by an excellent portrait of Mr. 
Whitaker, thus speaks of him: 

"Dr. George M. Whitaker, late of Washington, 
D. C. and associate editor of Hoard's Dairyman, 
died Thursday, August 29th, after a brief illness of 
only a few hours, caused by acute dilation of the 
heart and consequent heart failure. 



Class of 1872 91 

"This sudden ending of a highly meritorious and 
useful Hfe is painfully shocking, not only to his 
family and associates in the Dairyman ofifice, 
but as well, to a very wide circle of friends and 
associates in the United States. At the time of 
his death, Dr. Whitaker was president of the Farmer's 
National Congress and secretary of the National 
Dairy Union. In the latter organization he had 
been very arduously employed for nearly a year 
at Washington, defending the dairy interests of 
the whole country before Congress against fraudu- 
lent substitutes for butter. His work in this particu- 
lar has been very sagacious and efficient, and his 
loss will be seriously felt by every dairyman in the 
United States. For several years he was attached 
to the Dairy Division of the Agricultural Department 
in Washington where he acquired a wide spread 
reputation as an expert in market milk." 

He was a man of more than usual culture and 
attainments and possessed the firm respect and con- 
fidence of a very wide circle of associates as the 
following list of his activities will clearly show: 
He was for fifteen years editor of the New England 
Farmer; ten years the administrative officer of the 
Dairy Bureau of the Massachusetts State Board 
of Agriculture; seven years secretary of the New 
England Milk Producers' Union; seven years trustee 
of a local agricultural society in Massachusetts; sev- 
eral years vice-president of the Bay State Agricul- 



92 Bowdoin College 



tural Society; he has been a member of the Executive 
Committee of the National Association of the State 
and National Dairy Food Departments; treasurer 
and president of the Boston Press Club, and was 
honorary life member; secretary and president of 
Massachusetts Press Association; Massachusetts 
State Head of Temple of Honor, a tem- 
perance organization; President of Boston Bow- 
doin Club. He was a member of Advisory Board 
of George M. Oyster Baby Milk Philanthropy in 
Washington, D. C. ; Score Card Committee of Nation- 
al Dairy Instructors' Association; Vice-president of 
International Association of Dairy Milk Inspectors; 
a member of the executive board of Postal Progress 
League; a trustee of the Lincoln Memorial Univer- 
sity; a member of the Grange, Royal Arcanum and 
several clubs. He is author of a number of bulletins 
and reports published by the U. S. and the Massachu- 
setts Departments of Agriculture; author of a number 
of miscellaneous papers and addresses read before 
editorial, educational, health, agricultural and other 
organizations; and of many contributions to the 
agricultural press of the country. 

"He was first appointed a delegate to the Farmers' 
National Congress in 1895, by the Governor of Massa- 
chusetts, reappointed every year until 1905 when he 
became a life member. In 1901 he was elected as- 
sistant secretary; in 1905, secretary; and he held 
that office until he was elected October 14, 191 1, 



Class of 1872 93 

at Columbus, Ohio, the sixteenth President of the 
Farmers' National Congress. 

"The editors of Hoard's Dairyman extend to the 
stricken wife and daughter their deepest sympathy 
in this hour of their sorrow. 

"The remains were sent forward to Southbridge, 
Massachusetts, in charge of Mr. P. H. Crane of the 
Hoard's Dairyman Staff on Saturday, where they 
were laid to rest." 



94 Bowdoin College 



WILDER 

Harold Wilder was born in Rochester, New 
York, November 24, 1850; fitted for college 
at Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts; but 
was registered as hailing from Brooklyn, New York 
when entering Bowdoin in 1868. Upon graduation 
he became a teacher by profession and between 
1872 and 1882 he taught at Dudley, Massachusetts, 
Barre, Massachusetts and elsewhere. 

He married, November 27, 1878, Louise J. Gorham 
of Barre, and has two daughters both of whom are 
married. 

In the latter part of the '8o's he removed "out 
west," and has since been engaged in sheep ranching 
in Oregon where he has attended strictly to business. 
In a letter dated June ist, 1912 he says: "There is 
little of interest to say about myself, as I am a spared 
monument of encouragement for the poorly suc- 
cessful." But he says again: "The glory of life 
opens for me more and more wonderfully with ad- 
vancing years." 

Writing for the Round Robin in April 191 7 he 
writes with his characteristic good cheer and optimism. 
Referring to the oft repeated saying that "the good 
die young," he says of himself: "We uns seem fairly 
immune to over-goodness, so I have hope of sur- 
vival a while longer, and 'tis a grand world to be 
alive in these days." We would like to remind the 



Class of 1872 95 

dear brother of another poetical expression from 
Montgomery, which doubtless is just as true: "The 
good man never dies." May not this account for 
classmate Wilder's present enjoyment of life and his 
hoped for longevity? 

Wilder's home is at Flora, Wallowa County, 
Oregon, — rather upon the frontier. We wrote him 
March 20, 191 8. Our letter reached him April i. 
April 7 was his first opportunity of sending reply 
and his letter reached the writer April 24. He 
says he "lives in a canon and sometimes makes no 
connection with U. S. mail for weeks at a time." 



g/6 Bowdoin College 



WOOSTER 

Augustus Gustavus Wooster was born August 
21, 1840, at Hancock, Maine, and on entering 
Bowdoin hailed from that town. His stay with 
this class was very brief, he entering late in Sophomore 
year and leaving early in our Junior year. He is 
catalogued among the non-graduates of the class 
of 1873. The record speaks of him as teacher and 
lawyer in San Diego, California, 1882-1903. 

His death occurred at San Diego, January 25, 
1903. 



INDEX TO BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 





Page 




Page 


Abbott 


. 21 


Lambert 


. 57 


Ackley 


. 23 


Lewis 


. 58 


Atwood 


. 25 


Lord 


. 60 


Ayer 


. 26 


Meads 


. 61 


Benson 


. 27 


McClintock 


. 64 


Bickford . 


. 28 


McDowell . 


. 65 


Brown 


. 30 


Mitchell 


. 66 


Coggan 


. 31 


Payne 


. 67 


Cummings 


. 33 


Richards 


. 68 


Deering 


. 35 


Ricker 


. 71 


Dow 


. 36 


Rogers 


. 72 


Frost 


. 38 


Sampson 


. 75 


Furlong 


. 41 


Seiders 


. 77 


Goodwin . 


. 42 


Shannon 


. 81 


Gross 


. 44 


Spaulding 


. 82 


Harris 


. 45 


Stone 


. 85 


Heath 


. 47 


Totman 


. 87 


Hinks 


. 51 


Whitaker 


. 89 


Hooker 


. 52 


Wilder 


. 94 


Ireland 


. 54 


Wooster 


. 96 






* '' 



